Baby Boy and Everything Else Update!

It's been too long since I updated and now I have a lot to catch up on.  This might be the last blog post I do before baby boy makes his debut.  I had a doctor's appointment today and I am already 3 cm.  My doctor is going to induce me on April 24th if baby boy isn't here by then...yeah that is 12 days away, crazy!  I am so ready to be done.  This pregnancy went by so fast and I always said I wanted it to slow down cuz I wasn't ready for two kids and didn't feel prepared at all for a boy, but I have hit that point where I don't care if I am ready or not (let's be honest, you never are) I want this baby in my arms and out of my belly.  Poor Addie has a bump on a log for a mother these days.  I have zero energy and am constantly uncomfortable.  I have pretty much outgrown my maternity clothes, and am now getting the comments like "you must be having twins" and "that must be a big baby".  I am so sorry that when I am pregnant I get big and actually look pregnant.  My babies aren't huge, I am haha!  

We finally got his crib and bedding all put together, but his nursery is nowhere near done.  I have come to terms with the fact that it isn't the end of the world if he doesn't have the perfect room to come home to, you know he does use it so much in those first few weeks/months!  I have also come to terms that he will be using all things pink( bathtub, bumbo, boppy, nursing cover, etc.) gender neutral is the way to go people, what was I thinking.  We have been trying to prep Addie for the baby and we always talk about him to her, but I know her whole world is going to be rocked when he actually comes home to stay.  She thinks all the baby things are for her and whines to sit in the baby swing, his bassinet, carseat, and crib all day long.  I do think she will be a great big sister though.  

Addie has been a trooper throughout this pregnancy and I have tried to get out with her everyday to let her play, even if I just sit there while she plays!  We have been loving the warmer than usual weather and going to the park.  Here's what we've been up to:

 Painting

 Lots of park play days.  Addie is a slide fanatic!

 Playgroup feeding the ducks.  We have loved having weekly playgroups to get together with our friends!

 Eating the paint..made with evaporated milk!

 Getting stuck in the arm of daddy's shirts

 Collecting rocks.  This could easily be Addie's favorite thing to do, hunting and gathering rocks, sticks, flowers, pinecones, etc. and hoarding them in her stroller.  Unfortunately our yard is all rocks and bark instead of sod, so she is able to make a nice mess every time we're outside.  

  Addie's vocabulary has exploded the past couple of months.  She will repeat everything you say and say anything you tell her to.  I am amazed at all the words she knows.  But don't expect to hear any of them, she is a mute around everyone else.  She is in that stage where she will repeat a word over and over and over until you say the word, which can be pretty frustrating when you can't understand what she is saying and responding with "yeah" or "uh-huh" doesn't cut it!  She is doing much better in nursery, and being around other kids and away from me, just in time!  We are excited to be a family of 4 soon and can't wait to meet our little one.  I am going for two posts today so stay tuned for Easter!

Treehouse Museum

Nephi's parents invited Addie and I to go to the treehouse museum with them and Max( Addie's cousin). We had so much fun and Addie loved exploring all the little exhibits and playing pretend! She dressed up as a fireman, rode a horse, climbed in the treehouse, went to school and used a chalkboard, and her favorite was playing in the kitchen and using the tea set! We will definitely have to go again!

Loves

This year Love day was fantastic.  I have to admit I am not the biggest fan of Valentine's Day. A lot of hype, overpriced chocolate and flowers, and expectations that aren't lived up to.  However, this year was so great because I got to spend four straight days with my two loves. We don't usually go out on Valentine's because I hate the crowds and it's hard to find someone to watch Addie, so Nephi took the day off on Monday and we spent the day together as a fam and went to dinner that night instead.  We enjoyed some delicious cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then took Adds to the Living Planet Aquarium and she loved it.  Then that night Phi's parents watched Addie and we went to dinner at Corbin's.  It was absolutely delicious.  We had never been there before and we were both really impressed.  

 She loved putting her hands in the sting ray pool

And the giant aquarium with this awesome turtle

On the actual holiday, Nephi went back to work and Addie and I started our day like normal.  Our doorbell rang and I was not about to answer it, seeing as how I wasn't ready for the day and hate answering the door when I am not expecting someone.  Well about 6 rings later I finally answered the door and it was a special delivery from a special delivery man who really had the day off and went out to get some Valentine's swag for his girls.

Phi would kill me if he knew I posted this picture but it is just too funny!  This was his delivery disguise and Addie wasn't too sure about it!

 Lunch at Subway (love the February foot long promo)

 Fancy pizza dinner-yummy!

Nephi has never been great at surprises, but he definitely surprised us by taking the day off and we loved having him home an additional day!

Separation Anxiety

I have been drowning in a whole lot of Addie these last couple of weeks.  She is experiencing seperation anxiety to the max!  She has always been pretty attached to me, but she is going through a crazy phase right now where she doesn't want to go to anyone...not even Nephi a lot of the time.  She has always been so excited when her daddy gets home from work but the other day when he walked in the door she clung to my leg and started saying "mama" as if Nephi was going to snatch her and take her away from or something.  I mean really I am getting totally exhausted and frustrated with her.  I am pretty sure her crazy behavior is the result of being totally traumatized going to nursery.  I thought she was doing so well the first two weeks, but by the third week she just screamed the second I left until they brought her to me.  It's like she lost all trust in me for leaving her in there and now she thinks that anytime she can't see me I have run for the hills..and there have been some days where I feel like I just might!  Nephi works long hours and isn't home some nights before she goes to bed so it is mostly just me and her...I guess this is one of the perks of being a stay-at-home mom, a child who thinks she can't survive without me.  I mean after a long day at home with her I should be able to plan on Nephi giving her baths and changing her diapers, but she screams and throws the biggest tantrums and cries for me and it is just so exhausting.  Not to mention that I will have a newborn to take care of in less than three months along with her...have I mentioned I am terrified.  Please tell me that someone else has had a similar experience and my child is not going to be some crazy attached kid her whole life who doesn't want to socialize with anyone.  I just can't decide if I should keep taking her to nursery or wait it out and hope that things get better.  Help!     

Home Sweet Home

 Well we have been in our house for about a month and a half now and are loving it.  I am finally getting around to posting some pictures, although keep in mind there are still about a million things I want to do to make it our own.  

 Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Addie's Room

Addie's/Main Bathroom

Living Room/Current Family Room

The lighting was really bad in these pictures.  I say current family room because really the family room is downstairs we just don't have furniture yet for both so we are using this as our family room for now, since we spend all our time upstairs.

Kitchen/Dining

I had to throw in some pictures of the downstairs bathroom because it is the nicest bathroom in the house, and ironically enough we don't even use it!

Laundry Room

Our House!

We are a little nervous how our yard is going to look come spring.  There are tons of trees and shrubbery that could be really pretty or hideous.  We have our work cut out for us!

Kiddos Update

I stopped doing monthly updates on Addie when she turned one, but I figure I should document what she is up to these days now that she is EIGHTEEN months old.  Seriously how is that even possible.  She is growing up too dang fast, but I am loving the stage she is in...sassypants and all!  

She has been to nursery twice now and has done better than I thought, but each time I go to get her, one of the nursery leaders is holding her because she didn't want to be put down.  She gets so sad and has the cutest/saddest little sad face ever and so the nursery leaders can't help but pick her up and comfort her.  I am hoping she will get more comfortable and want to play and interact with the other kids more.  I am just glad that she isn't the screaming, inconsolable child of the group, she is more of the silent sufferer!  

Addie had her eighteen month appointment last week and we were both thrilled there was no shots.  She is healthy as a horse and finally moving up on the growth charts.

Her stats:

Weight-23.9lb

Height-32in

Head-18.5in

She is about in the 50th percentile for all three and perfectly proportionate.  After two bouts of croup in three months, it was nice to have a stress and pain free visit to the doctors.  

We went to Discovery Gateway with our friends Kelsey and Molly and Addie had such a blast exploring and especially playing with all the balls.  It is crazy to me that she is old enough to do all these "big kid" activities now.

At eighteen months, Addie:

-is still a Horrible eater and soo picky

-talks a ton and will say just about anything you tell her to

-has started blending words together

-is OBSESSED with watching signing time.  she will beg to watch it all day long and never gets it off her mind, it is crazy

-sleeps for like 14 hours at night and loves to sleep in til 9:30 or 10

-finally seems to like drinking milk

-has already got the tantrum thing down

-is OBSESSED with snow and loves to eat it every chance she gets

-still needs her binky at naps and bedtime

-becomes more of a mama's girl with each passing day

-loves to point to my belly and say "baby"

-mimics everything i do and always wants to do hair and make-up while I am getting ready

-loves her blankies and always has to have one nearby

We love our Addie cakes:

Baby boy:

This pregnancy has absolutely flown by.  I can't believe we are down to just three months til the little man makes his debut.  I don't feel  ready at all.  If I was having a girl I would at least feel somewhat prepared, but switching into boy mode has been hard.  We have been so busy with moving and getting settled that I haven't even thought about getting his room/wardrobe ready.  I am getting more and more excited to have a boy and just hope I can get things ready in time for him.  I experienced every symptom sooner than when I was pregnant with Addie.  I started feeling this baby move around 15 weeks, whereas with Addie I was like 21 weeks.  I also feel like I am getting bigger faster and experiencing a ton more back pain and aches earlier on.  I am starting to get really uncomfortable and have a hard time getting down on the floor to play with Addie.  It is going to be quite an adjustment having a baby around again, but we are thrilled to add to our family in just a few short months.

Where to Begin

I am so far behind on updating I don't really know where to begin.  I have been horrible at taking pictures and documenting everything going on and I am determined to get back in the swing of things.  After living with my parents for 3 months we closed on our home on December 21 and moved in on Christmas Eve...and I don't know what we were thinking!  It was definitely awesome to basically get our house for Christmas, but it was just a crazy couple of days!  We barely got our utilities turned on before everything closed down for Christmas, we woke up Christmas morning to no tree, presents, or decorations, no food, and trying to take showers with no shower curtain!  We rushed over to my parents for 9am church and then headed back to my parents for a yummy breakfast and presents.  Addie had a lot of fun opening presents, but her favorite present wasn't wrapped.

 We got her this cute chair that is just her size.  She is obsessed with it and loves to sit in it and watch her shows.  This is the best picture I have of her Christmas dress which she looked so adorable in and also the only pictures I took on Christmas day...yeah I am way lame.  We had a yummy dinner with the fam later that day and just hung out and spent time together.

The night before(Christmas Eve) we had Christmas with the Scott's.  We did a yummy dinner and exchanged gifts.  Addie had fun playing with her cousin Max and her new car track from nana and papa.

For New Year's Eve we did our third annual bowling night at the Syracuse Fun Center with Phi's family.  We all had so much fun, especially Addie, even though she spent her time exploring the bounce house and riding quarter rides.

 The Newlyweds

Addie ringing in the new year

Our Little Fam

Our holiday season was different than any other, but we are so grateful to finally be in a home of our own.  We are loving all the space and no longer climbing flights of stairs and sharing walls.  I know I need to post some pics of the house, I just keep thinking I will decorate or have things the way I want them before I post pics, but I am starting to think it will be a while until we actually have all of my projects done.  Lucky for us our house was move in ready and really didn't need anything done to it.  I will try and gets some pictures up soon.